China, Brazil to launch 24/7 disaster early warning satellite for South America
After almost four decades of international cooperation in space affairs, Brazil and China have unveiled details of a new project to launch a powerful meteorological and environmental satellite. It will be capable of monitoring the whole of South America, according to the space sciences department at Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (INPE). Adenilson Roberto da Silva, general…
Brazil and China have announced plans to collaborate on a 24/7 disaster early warning satellite system for South America. The joint project, known as CBERS-5, will see the two nations contribute different aspects of the satellite's design and technology. Brazil will build the satellite platform, while China will provide the meteorological and environmental payload.
INPE's Adenilson Roberto da Silva stated that the CBERS-5 satellite would offer "improved weather forecasting, disaster monitoring and early-warning systems that can save lives."
The satellite will be launched from China in 2030, and it will be the first Brazilian geostationary satellite, providing real-time data to help predict droughts, storms, and other critical environmental events. Brazilian authorities expect the mission to enhance the country's environmental monitoring infrastructure and aid its adaptation to climate change impacts. The CBERS-5 satellite will function at the same rate as the Earth's rotation, orbiting about 35,786km above the equator.
Bilateral cooperation in space has led to the development of six CBERS satellites so far, with two still in operation. The CBERS programme includes CBERS-6, currently under development, which will be equipped with synthetic aperture radar and operate in a sun-synchronous polar orbit. With this new partnership, Brazil aims to expand its capabilities from low Earth orbit satellites to those in geosynchronous orbit.
INPE anticipates this project will lead to increased cooperation and closer collaboration between the two nations.
Written by urgent.news from Reuters Business via SCMP's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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